Record sleeves

ABSTRACT

A record sleeve is provided with spines on at least the closed edges of the sleeve adjacent the open edge and a closure for closing the open sleeve edge, wherein the closure is formed by a flap folded on itself to provide a double thickness spine for spanning the open sleeve edge, a double thickness closure flap for underlying the other panel when the closure is in closed position and a marginal flap overlying the inner surface of the one panel adjacent the fourth edge thereof, the two thicknesses of the closure flap being adhered together and the two thicknesses of the spine and the marginal flap being relatively movable.

United States Patent [1 1 Garrod [4 Oct. 16, 1973 RECORD SLEEVES [22] Filed: Oct. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 187,694

[76] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 2,365,739 12/1944 Williamson 229/44 R 3,110,435 11/1963 Layne, Sr 229/40 3,307,772 3/1967 Garrod 229/68 R 3,386,641 6/1968 Cassidy 229/40 Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Assistant ExaminerStephen Marcus Attorney-Alexander and Dowell [5 7] ABSTRACT A record sleeve is provided with spines on at least the closed edges of the sleeve adjacent the open edge and a closure for closing the open sleeve edge, wherein the closure is formed by a flap folded on itself to provide a double thickness spine for spanning the open sleeve edge, a double thickness closure flap for underlying the other panel when the closure is in closed position and a marginal flap overlying the inner surface of the one panel adjacent the fourth edge thereof, the two thicknesses of the closure flap being adhered together and the two thicknesses of the spine and the marginal flap being relatively movable.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEnucI 16 .915 3.765. 596

SHEET 1 BF 2 F/GJ.

PATENTEUHCI 16 ms 3,765; 596

SHEET 2 UF 2 RECORD SLEEVES The present invention relates to improvements in record sleeves and in particular record sleeves provided with a closure for closing the open edge of the sleeve.

It has been proposed, for example, in British Pat. Specification No. ll 19823, to provide a record sleeve with a closure flap extending from one side panel of the sleeve which, to close the sleeve, is inserted into its open end. The sleeve shown in the above Specification is provided with spines on the three closed edges of the sleeve, some of which may be reinforced as shown. To correspond, the closure is also provided with a spine.

It has been proposed, for example, in the specification of British Pat. No. 1231771 to reinforce the do sure flap, closure spine and adjacent portion of the sleeve wall by making them of double thickness, a flap being folded over to form a double-thickness closure flap and closure spine and to provide a marginal flap overlying the inner surface of the sleeve side panel to which the closure is connected. The two thicknesses of the closure flap and spine and the marginal flap and side panel are glued together and folded into a U- shape. It was, however, found in practice that such a reinforced double-thickness closure is of such rigidity that it is impossible to unbend the closure flap and spine from the U-shape to open the sleeve without destroying the closure. To obviate this disadvantage it was found necessary to provide the closure with a hinge spaced inwardly of the edge of the sleeve. This arrangement has, however, been found to be aesthetically unpleasing as well as providing an insecure closure.

According to the present invention there is provided a record sleeve including first and second rectangular side panels which are connected together along three edges, the fourth edges of the panels defining an open sleeve edge, at least the closed sleeve edges adjacent the open sleeve edge being each provided with a spine interconnecting the side panels, and a closure for closing the open sleeve edge pivotally connected to the fourth edge of one of the panels, wherein the closure is formed by a flap folded on itself to provide a double thickness spine for spanning the open sleeve edge, a double thickness closure flap for underlying the other panel when the closure is in closed position and a marginal flap overlying the inner surface of the one panel adjacent the fourth edge thereof, the two thicknesses of the closure flap being adhered together and the two thicknesses of the spine and the marginal flap being relatively movable.

The lateral edges of the marginal flap may be spaced from the adjacent closed sleeve .edges, the marginal flap advantageously extending in the central region of the open edge of the sleeve. With this construction, the most important part of the closure on which a record in the sleeve may bear when the closure is in closed position has the maximum reinforcement.

The marginal flap may be held in a position overlying and in contact with the inner surface of the one panel by flap means.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a section through a first embodiment of a sleeve according to the present invention, with the closure closed;

FIG. 2 is a section through the sleeve of FIG. I with the closure open;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a part of one side panel of the sleeve of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a part of one side panel of a second embodiment of a sleeve according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a section through a corner of a further embodiment of a sleeve according to the present invention taken parallel to the planes of the sleeve side panels; and

FIG. 6 is a section on the line II-II of FIG. 5.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the closure 1 is integral with one side panel 2 of the sleeve and is formed by an outer spine portion 3, an outer closure flap portion 4, an inner closure flap portion 5, an inner spine portion 6 and a marginal flap 7 overlying the side panel 2, the portions and flap being connected by score or fold lines 8. Only the closure flap portions 4, 5 are adhered together. Thus when the closure is opened, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner spine portion 6 and marginal flap 7 move relative to the outer spine portion 3 and panel 2 to allow this opening movement.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the closure is closed the 9 other side panel 9 of the sleeve holds the closure in closed position and the resilience of the board from which the sleeve is made causes the inner spine portion 6 and marginal flap 7 to nest securely in the U formed by the outer closure flap portion 4, spine portion 3 and panel 2 to provide a well-reinforced closure.

As shown, the sleeve is provided with spines 10 on all three closed edges, the spines being reinforced as described in British Pat. No. l I 19823. The marginal portion 7 extends substantially the full width of the open edge of the sleeve, the lateral edges being cut away so that they will abut correspondingly cut away lateral edges of marginal flaps ll of the spines 10 when the closure is in closed position.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the lateral edges of the marginal flap 7 are spaced from the adjacent closed edges of the sleeve, the flap 7 lying in thecentralregion of the open sleeve edge. It is found with the embodiment of FIG. 3, because of the somewhat resilient nature of the board from which the sleeve is made, the marginal flap 7 and connected spine portion 6 tend to spring out of the sleeve opening when the closure is opened and thereby obstruct the sleeve opening. When the marginal flap 7 extends the full width of the opening it is somewhat difficult to reintroduce it without bending it. However, with the lesser extent of the marginal flap of the present embodiment it is quite simple to bow the sleeve sufficiently to reintroduce it into the sleeve.

With the construction of the closure of FIG. 4 the closure is provided with maximum reinforcement in the region on which a record housed in the sleeve may bear. Additionally, when the spines on three closed sleeve edges are reinforced and each includes a flap l l overlying the panel 2 on which marginal portions of a record will bear when the sleeve is horizontal, the flap 7 provides a corresponding flap on the fourth edge of the sleeve.

An alternative construction for obviating the disadvantage of the embodiment of FIG. 3 is shown in FIGS. and 6.

The sleeve shown in these Figures is made with reinforced spines as described in the specification of British Pat. No. 1 1 19823. As in the above embodiment, it comprises two sleeve side panels 2, 9. The reinforced spines are integral with the side panel 2 and are adhered to the side panel 9 by double thickness flaps (not shown). The inner layer of each spine 10 is connected to a marginal flap 11 which, for the spines adjacent the open sleeve edge is not adhered to the member 2, at least adjacent the open edge of the sleeve.

The closure 1, as before, comprises closure flap portions 4, 5, spine portions 3, 6 and a marginal flap 7 overlying the inner surface of side panel 2. The two closure flap portions 4, 5 are adhered together while the two spine portions 3, 6 and the marginal flap 7 and panel 2 are not adhered together. The marginal flap 11 of each spine adjacent the open edge of the sleeve and the marginal flap 7 are laterally extended such that they overlap at the corners of the sleeve. Marginal flap 7 is then positioned between marginal flap 11 and the sleeve side panel 2 so that it is retained by the marginal flap 1 1 in a position in contact with the panel 2. The degree of overlap of the flaps 7, 11 is such that they will remain overlapped whether the closure is open or closed.

With this arrangement, full reinforcing of the closure is obtained, while at the same time the marginal flap 7 is prevented from obstructing the sleeve opening when the closure 1 is open.

The above described sleeves may be made from one or two blanks, for example, as described in British Pat. No. l 1 19823 or in my copending U.S. application, Ser. No. 243,097, filed Apr. 11, 1972 which is a continuation-impart of U.S. Ser. No. 47,735, filed June 19, 1970. The sleeve is provided with spines at least on the closed edges adjacent the open edge. The provision of a spine on the edge opposite the open edge is optional. The spines may be reinforced for example as in the above referred to patent and application or as described in British Pat. No. 1149242.

1 claim:

1. In a record sleeve comprising:

a. a first rectangular side panel;

b. a second rectangular side panel; and

c. means connecting three edges of said first side panel to three corresponding edges of said second side panel;

d. the fourth edges of said side panels defining a sleeve opening through which a record can be introduced into said sleeve; said means connecting said edges of said side panels adjacent said opening comprising spines;

the improvement comprising closure means for closing said opening, said closure means comprising a flap pivotally connected to said fourth edge of said first side panel and folded on itself to provide:

i. a two layer spine for spanning said opening when said closure means is in closed condition, said two layers being free for relative movement;

ii. a two layer closure flap for overlying the inner surface of said second side panel in the region of said fourth edge thereof when said closure means is in closed condition, said two layers being affixed together; and

iii. a marginal flap overlying the inner surface of said first side panel in the region of said fourth edge thereof, said marginal flap being free for movement relative to said first side panel.

2. The improvement defines by claim 1 wherein the lateral edges of said marginal flap are spaced inwardly from said edges of said first side panel adjacent said opening.

3. The improvement defined by claim 2, wherein said marginal flap is positioned centrally of said opening.

4. In a record sleeve comprising:

a. a first rectangular side panel;

b. a second rectangular side panel; and

0. means connecting three edges of said first side panel to three corresponding edges of said second side panel;

d. the fourth edges of said side panels defining a sleeve opening through which a record can be introduced into said sleeve; said means connecting said edges of said side panels adjacent said opening comprising spines;

the improvement comprising closure means for closing said opening; said closure means comprising a flap pivotally connected to said fourth edge of said first side panel and folded on itself to provide:

i. a two layers spine for spanning said opening when said closuremeans is in closed condition, said two layers being free for relative movement;

ii. a two layer closure flap for overlying the inner surface of said second panel in the region of said fourth edge thereof when said closure means is in closed condition, said two layers being affixed together; and

iii. a marginal flap overlying the inner surface of said first side panel in the region of said fourth edge thereof, said marginal flap being free for movement relative to said first side panel and being maintained in a position overlying and substantially in contact with said inner surface of said first side panel by flap means.

5. The improvement defined by claim 4 wherein at least one of the lateral edge portions of said marginal flap is positioned between a flap adjacent the said adjacent closed sleeve edge and said first side panel.

6. The improvement defined by claim 4 wherein the lateral edge portions of said marginal flap are held in position by flap means associated with said spines of the said adjacent closed sleeve edges. 

1. In a record sleeve comprising: a. a first rectangular side panel; b. a second rectangular side panel; and c. means connecting three edges of said first side panel to three corresponding edges of said second side panel; d. the fourth edges of said side panels defining a sleeve opening through which a record can be introduced into said sleeve; said means connecting said edges of said side panels adjacent said opening comprising spines; the improvement comprising closure means for closing said opening, said closure means comprising a flap pivotally connected to said fourth edge of said first side panel and folded on itself to provide: i. a two layer spine for spanning said opening when said closure means is in closed condition, said two layers being free for relative movement; ii. a two layer closure flap for overlying the inner surface of said second side panel in the region of said fourth edge thereof when said closure means is in closed condition, said two layers being affixed together; and iii. a marginal flap overlying the inner surface of said first side panel in the region of said fourth edge thereof, said marginal flap being free for movement relative to said first side panel.
 2. The improvement defines by claim 1 wherein the lateral edges of said marginal flap are spaced inwardly from said edges of said first side panel adjacent said opening.
 3. The improvement defined by claim 2, wherein said marginal flap is positioned centrally of said opening.
 4. In a record sleeve comprising: a. a first rectangular side panel; b. a second rectangular side panel; and c. means connecting three edges of said first side panel to three corresponding edges of said second side panel; d. the fourth edges of said side panels defining a sleeve opening through whIch a record can be introduced into said sleeve; said means connecting said edges of said side panels adjacent said opening comprising spines; the improvement comprising closure means for closing said opening; said closure means comprising a flap pivotally connected to said fourth edge of said first side panel and folded on itself to provide: i. a two layers spine for spanning said opening when said closure means is in closed condition, said two layers being free for relative movement; ii. a two layer closure flap for overlying the inner surface of said second panel in the region of said fourth edge thereof when said closure means is in closed condition, said two layers being affixed together; and iii. a marginal flap overlying the inner surface of said first side panel in the region of said fourth edge thereof, said marginal flap being free for movement relative to said first side panel and being maintained in a position overlying and substantially in contact with said inner surface of said first side panel by flap means.
 5. The improvement defined by claim 4 wherein at least one of the lateral edge portions of said marginal flap is positioned between a flap adjacent the said adjacent closed sleeve edge and said first side panel.
 6. The improvement defined by claim 4 wherein the lateral edge portions of said marginal flap are held in position by flap means associated with said spines of the said adjacent closed sleeve edges. 